A technique that uses luminaires with asymmetric optics or kickers, placed a set distance from the wall, to flatten out texture and spread smooth illuminance over the surface. A common rule of thumb places wall washers about one quarter to one third of the wall height from the wall and spaces them about the same distance apart. Bright vertical surfaces make spaces feel larger and brighter at the same energy.
Wall washing on the lobby feature wall needs to start 3 feet out, any closer and the bottom half goes dark.
Also heard as
- wall wash
- washing
Do not mix it up with
- Grazing: Grazing puts the light very close to the wall to exaggerate texture; wall washing sets it back to smooth texture out.
Related terms
Grazing
Lighting a surface from a very steep angle, close to the wall, to bring out its texture with strong highlights and shadows.
Scallops
The arched pattern of light and shadow that downlights draw on a wall when mounted close to it.
Downlight
A ceiling luminaire, usually recessed, that directs its light downward, known regionally as a can or pot light.
Uniformity
How evenly light is spread over an area, expressed as a ratio such as minimum to average or maximum to minimum.